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As a parent, I know how difficult it is for a parent to let
go and let their children do their own thing. They want to have fun, but as a
parent, you want them to be safe, polite, and mostly clean.

However, children really need to have their own space if they
are going to be successful in life. They need time to figure out what they like
to do and what they don’t like to do. They also need to learn how to perform
tasks for themselves.

Rules, of course, should be a part of every child’s life,
but too many rules can limit their creativity and growth.

Here are 5 essential things all children should be allowed
to do!

1. Eat By Themselves

This can be extremely difficult for those with young
children. It is hard to sit by and see a child get 10% of their meal in their
mouth and 90% on their clothes. I know what one may be thinking. What if they
aren’t getting enough to eat?

Well, they are not going to starve, and allowing them to eat
by themselves helps those to learn important motor skills they will need the
rest of their lives. They will also have gained confidence from knowing they
can use spoons and forks like a big kid.

2. Help with Chores

Although it may take longer than doing it alone, parents
should let kids help with chores and other household tasks. When they are
younger, this is another self-confidence thing. Little kids love to help, and
if you get them started early, they will continue helping. As children get
older, helping with chores allows them to learn responsibility and how to take
care of themselves.

My five-year-old daughter loves to help me cook dinner and
do the dishes. My son, who is eight, is right at that age where asking him to
load the dishwasher is like asking him to pull out his right arm, but I stick
with it because I know it’s important.

3. Express Their Creativity

Believe it or not, some parents do not allow their kids to
draw or paint whatever they want. I actually fall into this category sometimes.
Maybe I want my kids to draw in the lines of the coloring book, or I want them
to use more colors when painting ceramics. I sometimes catch myself directing
their creativity.

“Because it is a key to success in nearly everything we do,
creativity is a key component of health and happiness and a core skill to
practice with kids. Creativity is not limited to artistic and musical
expression—it is also essential for science, math, and even social and
emotional intelligence.”

4. Say What They Think

Children need to be able to say what they think about a
certain situation. They need to feel like they can talk to parents freely
without the fear of judgment or punishment. By learning how to express their feelings
about certain situations, they will be able to grow up into better prepared
adults with good communication skills.

“Kids who do not express themselves, and are instead
people-pleases, grow up into unhappy adults who never really reach their unique
potential. This is why it is so important that kids learn as early as possible
that being they are what life is all about.”

5. Have Fun and Get Dirty

Kids need to have fun in order to learn. Much of what kids
learn happens during playtime. This is when they explore the world around them,
develop social and cognitive skills, and develop emotionally. Many children who
are not allowed to play freely when they are younger will have a harder time
adjusting when they are older.

“Without adequate, healthy play, children run the risk of
entering school unprepared, growing into teens and adults without needed
skills, and failing to meet their potential. Experts at the Institute for Play
believe that healthy play in childhood can even prevent violence.”

This means they also need to get dirty. No more worrying
about ruined clothes. (They grow out of them so fast anyway!)